School of Social and Political Science

Background

I am a Tutor in the Department of Politics and International Relations in the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh and an Associate Fellow (AFHEA) of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE). 

Publications

Vargas, I. (2026) Fighting to be God: A Bourdieusian critique of the challenge of humanitarian disarmament to the State. Desde el Sur, 18(1), e0010. https://doi.org/10.21142/DES-1801-2026-0010 

Work in Progress 

Building on my PhD research, I am writing my first monograph with Edinburgh University Press. The book, currently entitled 'Humanising War: Killer Robots, the United Nations and the Paradoxes of Humanitarianism,' will be published in the series Advances in Critical Military Studies.  

Teaching Experience

Tutor, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, UK

• International Security (PGSP11162) | Sem 2, 2024/2025
• Political Thinkers (PLIT08011) | Sem 2, 2025/2026
• Politics and International Relations 1A: Concepts and Debates (PLIT08017) | Sem 1, 2024/2025
• Research Design in Politics and International Relations (PLIT10106) | Sem 1, 2025/2026; Sem 1, 2024/2025; Sem 1 2023/2024; Sem 1, 2021/2022
• War and Justice (PLIT10021) | Sem 2, 2023/2024; Sem 2, 2021/2022

Guest Lecturer & Tutor, School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, University of Dundee, UK | 2024/2025

Teaching Assistant, Division of History and Politics, University of Stirling, UK | 2023/2024

Education

• PhD Politics, University of Edinburgh, UK | 2024
• Master of International Relations, University of Melbourne, Australia (First Class Honours) | 2015
• BSc Public Administration and Political Science, Major in Political Science, Universidad de Concepción, Chile (Highest Distinction) | 2011 

Funding and Awards

• Nominee: Teacher of the Year, EUSA Teaching Awards | March 2026
• Nominee: Teacher of the Year, EUSA Teaching Awards | March 2025
• Nominee: Teacher of the Year, Stirling University RATE Awards | May 2024
• IntroAP, Institute for Academic Development (IAD), University of Edinburgh, UK | January 2024
• PhD Research Support Fund, SPS, University of Edinburgh, UK | November 2021
• PhD Research Support Fund, SPS, University of Edinburgh, UK | June 2021
• International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP), US Department of State | June 2019
• Scholarship for PhD Studies Abroad, Becas Chile | June 2019
• Scholarship for Master's Degree Studies Abroad, Becas Chile | June 2013

Membership

• Associate Fellowship, Advance HE (AFHEA)
• International Relations Research Group (IRRG)
• Centre for Security Research (CeSeR)
• Political Studies Association (PSA)
• European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR)